WEBVTT IF YOU ARE NOT SICK - CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY. THERE'S A LOT GOING AROUND RIGHT NOW.. AND DOCTORS ARE URGING YOU TO BEWARE. WYFF NEWS FOUR'S MIKE MCCORMICK.. TAKES US INTO THE EXAM ROOM. DOROTHY DEAN - THOUGHT SHE MIGHT BE SUFFERING FROM ALLERGIES... 7:22 "sore throat, ears stopped up, little bit of chest congestion." BUT SHE WENT TO THE DOCTOR JUST TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT A COLD. 8:01 "starting a little early this year." SHE'S NOT ALONE.. DOCTORS IN GREENVILLE AND SPARTANBURG.. SAY THEY'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN RESPIRATORY TYPE ILLNESSES. 7:47 "not fun at all." SPARTANBURG REGIONAL IS REPORTING CASES OF THE FLU ALREADY.. THE SEASON DOESN'T TYPICALLY START TILL OCTOBER. ON TOP OF THAT.. MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING CHECKED OUT FOR STOMACH SICKNESSES. 4:06 "a little of everything and some of that is really the petrie dish of going back to school. Kids spread things, they bring it home to their families, it ends up in the workplace, so folks pick it up on airplanes and cab rides, things of that sort." DR. HOWARD BEAN OF THE MARY BLACK HEALTH SYSTEM - SAYS HE HASN'T SEEN ANY CASES OF THE FLU YET.. BUT HE SAYS THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION IS RECOMMENDING YOU GET THE FLU SHOT.. AS SOON AS IT'S AVAILABLE WHERE YOU ARE. 3:07 "had mine yesterday." HE SAYS.. YOU SHOULD SEE THE DOCTOR IF YOU'RE NOT FEELING WELL.. BECAUSE EVEN A COLD.. OR ALLERGIES.. CAN LEAD TO INFECTIONS THAT DO REQUIRE ANTIBIOTICS. 8:17 "come to the doctor, get it checked out." "some tips to protect you and the people around you... Doctors say hand sanitizer is fine, but they recommend washing your hands with soap and water long enough to sing the happy birthday song twice. And if you're coughing, avoid your hands and do it into your elbow area. Mike McCormick, WYFF News4, in Spartanburg.